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An Evaluation of the Final Common Pathway

Norman C. Reynolds, Jr, MD; George K. Montgomery, PhD

Arch Neurol. 1987;44(10):1013-1016.

Abstract
• The question of how pathophysiologic mechanisms may combine to yield significant performance impairment in Parkinson's disease was studied by factor analysis of the covariation among behavioral deficits observed during simulated daily living activities. Eighty-four patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease were videotape-recorded while performing a sequence of nine common tasks of daily living in a standardized format. Acceptable observer reliability was achieved for ten clinical signs that were factor-analyzed to suggest three dimensions of motor performance: ambulation, tremor, and animation. The findings are discussed with respect to traditional concepts of Parkinson's disease and the possible interplay between primary disease mechanisms.

Author Affiliations
From the Neurology Department, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Milwaukee Clinical Campus (Dr Reynolds) and the Neurology Department, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison (Dr Montgomery).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication May 20, 1987.

Reprint requests to Mount Sinai Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53202 (Dr Reynolds).